406 hdi aux belt - strange behaviour

[Peter.N.]

I was just backing into a parking space outside the dentist this morning when I suddenly lost power steering and electricity, then it came back, then it went again, when I came out and drove home it had gone completely, I had a quick look under the bonnet and the aux belt appeared to be OK. I drove home carefully avoiding sharp corners, put the car on the ramp and took off the plastic wing shield,

I half expected to see that the crankshaft pulley had parted company, but it hadn't and there was no movement in it whatsoever, I checked the idler and the tensioner which had a minuscule amount of play but spun silently also the alternator and all the other pulleys, no sign play in any of them. The belt also was in good condition, you could even read the writing on it. So why did it come off. Could it be that the belt had streched and come loose or is there some other explanation?

This is the first time in about 45,000 miles anything has gone wrong with it.

Now its apart I have decided to change the cam belt so it hasn't been a complete waste of time.

Peter

[spider]

Does sound odd Peter.

Most issues I've seen with this setup (includes XUD's with A/C) involve the spring and its mounting bushes. The other one is the tensioner itself with its bush (I think, going from memory)

I don't generally think these type of belts can really stretch too much, more likely shred or snap but shredding usually results in it wrapping itself around other components ie crankpully (which is not good news as you know)

Slightly confused though, has the belt done a awol act completely or was it still sat where you would expect it to be ?

[Peter.N.]

No it had just come off Andy, with no apparent damage to the belt or anything else. I was going to order a new belt but in view of the problems I had getting the right size last time I thought I would refit this one. I have ordered a cam belt kit now so maybe when i get it stripped down something will show up.

Peter

[Peter.N.]

Problem solved. The crankshaft pulley was loose Its been rattling for about a year but has done surprisingly little damage to the pulley or the crank, it finally let go of the belt when the woodruff key broke. Anyway I have now fitted a new cam belt and water pump while I was there, Loctited the pulley bolt and did it up very tight, going fine at the moment.

Peter

[lexi]

You have a ramp?

[Peter.N.]

Of sorts

[lexi]

[Peter.N.]

I would send you a picture of it - if I knew how.

[RichardW]

PM Sent....

[myglaren]

Photo's edited in.

[Peter.N.]

Thanks Steve.

[lexi]

Very interesting I thought it maybe a shuttered concrete ramp. Be careful Peter........I don't want any squashy stuff

Remember that the wall is retaining tons of soil as well as the weight of car. They look like single block too.
Can I say I don't like it? I would strengthen it as I am belt and braces on structure.

[Peter.N.]

I have been using it for about 40 years although I did have to replace the wood a few years ago, I have never had one on top of me yet and I've had some pretty heavy cars on there. I built it soon after we moved here and its the most useful tool I have, the wheels are just the right height to work on the brakes or suspension and I have a little stool that I can sit on underneath for exhaust work or anything else on the underside.

I have dropped a couple off the side over the years because someone has moved the boards, but they are quite easy to get back, jack with a 4x4 post, lift the car up clear of the timber and slide it underneath - simples.

Goodness knows how many gallons of oil and filters I have used in that time, I was doing 30,000 miles a year at one time and although I am well retired now I still manage to clock up about 15k a year between the cars, plus the work I do on my sons and one or two others.

It does incidentally have a peer in the centre but also one or two cracks but no real signs of movement.

Peter

[lexi]

I know that Peter. I am only concerned about you and your safety mate. Remember that the longer you use it, does not make it safer as things move and erode/deteriorate. Tie and build another Buttress/Pier towards the corner. Lock the battens and drums together.
You have slipped a car off it?

I know how I would make it Clydebuilt..........but you may not like the shuttering and mixing of concrete with rebar I love doing all that stuff!

[Peter.N.]

Thank you for your concern. Nothing has moved much in the 40 or so years I have used it, if its going to collapse I think it would do it when I drive on, the oil drums are remarkably strong, I have only replace them once since its been there, the others did start rusting out so I have put some oil inside these which has kept them fairly rust free so far.

The only time I remember a car falling off one side was when my brother in law moved one board to drive his mini van on there, I didn't know this and drove a PC Cresta onto it which was considerably wider, one wheel dropped off, landed on the sill, didn't do much damage, just jacked it up and put the board under the wheel, can't remember the other occasion.

I do inspect it periodically but even if I was underneath and something gave out I doubt that it could to the ground - unless both boards snapped but I think that is unlikely, even if the wheels were over the drums it should stay there - be a bit difficult getting the car off though.

Peter